Bill-file



G. H. DUNN (No ModeL) BILL FILE.

Patented Nov. 24, 1885.

" j UNITED Srarnsj Parent @rrrcn;

BILL

FiLE.

PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,043, dated November 24, 1885.

Application filed May 16, 1885. Serial No.165,716.' (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. DUNN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Greensburg, in the county of Decatur and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bill-Files; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has for its objects, first,to provide an improved bill-file for filing bills, letters, and similar papers which are wanted for ready reference, and from which one or more such papers may be readily removed without disarranging others that may be on the file; and, secondly, to combine with the bill-file a punch for punching the papers preparatory to filing them.

The invention will first be described with reference to the drawings, and then pointed out in the claims. a

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the combined bill file and punch. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the punch detached.

A represents the base.

B is the receiving-wire, attached at its lower end to a plate, b, which is secured to base A. This wire is straight for the greater portion of itslength, and near its top is bent,as shown, its upper end being formed with a squareshouldered pin, b.

C is the transfer-wire, seated on a rocking plate, 0. This wire also is straight for a portion of its length, and is then so bent as to accurately meet the receiving-wire. Its outer end is recessed for the reception of the squareshouldered pin b. This form of pin is deemed preferable to the conically-shaped pin heretofore used in devices of this kind, in that it affords asolid bearing for the end of the transferwire, and produces asmooth close-fitting joint, thereby preventing mutilation of the papers in being moved from one wire to the other.

D D represent guides. These consist of small wires, arched as shown, and inserted in base A on either side of wires B and 0. They should belocated at an equal distance inwardly all around from said wires, in order that they may form a guide and bearing for the papers in whatever position they may be on the file.

.E represents a clamp, constructed from a single piece of wire, bent intothe form clearly shown in the drawings. The lower portion,e, of the clamp,eXtending transversely of base A, is j ournaled in bearings e on each side of the base, and is formed with a Lil-shaped bend, 6 at about its center. Outside of the bearings the wire is slightly arched,carried to near the front end of base A, then bent inwardly at right angles,and the ends neatly and securely joined.

F is a plate-spring, secured at one end to base A, its free end overriding the U-shaped bend in the clamp. The purpose of clamp E is twofoldthat is to say, it serves to hold the papers down to the base when they are on the receiving-wire,andit also serves as a separator when some of the papers are on the transferwire.

G represents a plate secured to base A, having its ends bent up at a right angle, and perforated to serve as bearings for arod, H. The rocking plate 0, hereinbefore mentioned, has its ends bent downward at a right angle, and they, also, are perforated. Plate 0, thus formed, is just long enough to fit snugly within the upturned ends of plate G, and through the perforations in both plates is inserted rod E.

On said rod is a coiled spring, I, aportion of which extends rearwardly from the rod and bears against the under side of a lever, J, attached to plate G. The front end of the metal strip from which the lever is formed is bent down at a right angle directly in front of plate G, forming a stop, K, which, when the file is closed,rests on plate G, thereby relieving strain which would otherwise come upon the transferwire. Plate 0, lever J, and stop K may all be made from a single piece of metal, if preferred. To the under side of leverJ is secured a punch, L,whicl1 operates in connection with a perforated plate, M, secured to base A,which latter is also perforated directly under the hole in plate M, to allow cuttings to pass through. Under plate G is secured one end of a flat spring, N, its free end perforated and occupyin g, normally, a position slightly above plate M. This spring is for releasing the papers after punching. The punch should be placed the same distance from plate G as the guides D are inwardly from wires B and C, so that by placing the papers to be punced against said plate the holes will be made in the proper place to allow the paper to rest evenly against the guides. when on the file.

Punches have heretofore been independently mounted on the same base with the bill-file; but in no construction with which I am acquainted has there been a legitimate combination of the file and punch. By my invention the punch is so combined with the file as to make parts of one perform functions of the other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bill-file composed of a receiving-wire formed with a square-shouldered pin, a transfer-wire formed with a recess: to receive said pin,,a. rockingplate on which the transfer-wire is mounted, a, lever and spring for operating said plate, and a stop formed by bending the end of thelever downward at aright angle, to avoidstrainon the transfer-wire.

2. The combination,w-ith a transfer-wire and a-rocking p-la-teon whichsaid wire is mounted, of alever and spring for operating said plate,

a punch secured to the lever, and a plate or base, perforated inline with the punch,for operation therewith, substantially as described.

3. In abill-file,the'combination, with a receiv-- ing-wire and a transfer-wire,of the two arched guides mounted one on either side of said wires and at an equal distance inwardly all around from them, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination,with abase,a receiving wire, and a rocking transfer-wire, of a rectangularly-shaped clamp journaled inlugs' on each side of the base, near the transfer wire, I and extending forward of they receiving-wire,

and a spring for operatingthe clamp, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

MARSHALL GRovER, MONROE T. Moss.

GEORGE HEDFORD DUNN. 

